FCPD DWI Efforts

Aim for a Safe December

In an
effort to keep December 2012 a safe and festive month for all, Fairfax
County Police are stepping up alcohol enforcement and education efforts
with extra DWI patrols, sobriety checkpoints and social media messaging.
DWI Safe December efforts commenced with a media demonstration
highlighting the expert, professional officer training in DWI detection
at the agency’s Operations Support Bureau this afternoon.

Last
December (2011), officers arrested 372 drunk drivers as a part of their
Safe December efforts. Of those, 85 were female and 287 were male. That
figure shows a 17 percent increase over 2010’s December DWI arrests. In
all, over 3,200 people were arrested for drunk driving in Fairfax County
in 2011.

Police urge residents to make their travel plans in advance of holiday
parties by designating a sober driver as drunk driving continues to be a
serious roadway danger. So far in 2012, 607 drivers have been involved in
a reported crash after consuming alcohol; 60 of these drivers were
underage at the time of the crash. The majority of the drivers were men;
481. Last December, there were 72 drivers involved in a reported crash
after consuming alcohol.

Drivers aren’t the only ones at risk when alcohol is involved;
pedestrians need to take precautions as well. Last year, 22 pedestrians
were reported struck while walking after consuming alcohol; two of them
were underage at the time they were struck.

In
addition to additional DWI targeted patrols, motorists should expect to
encounter checkpoints across Fairfax County this month as they are an
additional deterrent and educational tool. The Public Information Office
will post information on their social media sites throughout the month in
an effort to remind residents of the dangers and consequences of impaired
driving.

“Drunk driving continues to pose a threat to all who drive our roadways,”
said Captain Susan Culin, Commander of the Fairfax County Traffic
Division. “We want the public to know that it continues to be a serious
problem and police are out there targeting reckless, illegal driving
behaviors.”